An electric induction furnace for heating and melting electrically conductive materials is provided with a lining wear detection system that can detect replaceable furnace lining wear when the furnace is properly operated and maintained. In some embodiments of the invention the lining wear detection system utilizes an electrically conductive wire assemblage embedded in a wire assemblage refractory disposed between the replaceable lining and the furnace's induction coil.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, -Fe and magnesium nitride.

A crucible device with temperature control design includes a crucible body, an induction coil unit, a nozzle flange body and a melt delivery tube and a temperature control unit. The induction coil unit surrounds the crucible body, provides a heat source during use, and is configured to enable a metal material to melt and produce a melt having a melting skull. The melt delivery tube is communicated via the nozzle flange body to a bottom of the crucible body and is configured to deliver the melt from the crucible body. The temperature control unit includes a microprocessor, a heater and a temperature sensor which are electrically coupled to each other, and are configured to control a curve of the melting skull to drop to a preset position.

A method for ironmaking by smelting reduction in a stir-generated vortex includes: (1) placing a pig iron in an induction furnace, and then heating the pig iron to a molten state to form a molten iron, and maintaining the molten iron to be greater than or equal to 1450 C.; (2) stirring a center of the molten iron to form a vortex with a height-to-diameter ratio of 0.5-2.5, and continuously performing stirring; (3) mixing and grinding on an iron-containing mineral, a reducing agent and a slag-forming agent in a mass ratio of 1:(0.1-0.15):(0.25-0.4) to obtain a powder mixture, spraying and blowing the powder mixture to a center of the vortex, performing a reduction reaction, and stopping the stirring after the molten iron and molten slags are obtained, wherein a waste gas is produced; and (4) discharging the molten iron and the molten slags respectively, and exhausting a treated waste gas.

This disclosure relates to determining a material transition point such as a melt-point, and to determining an annealing parameter based on the determined material transition point. Changes in a parameter associated with an electromagnetic circuit coupled to an object subject to heating are monitored. A material transition point is determined upon detecting a predetermined change in the parameter. The annealing parameter is derived from the determined material transition point.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising disposing a container containing a metal and/or ferromagnetic solid and abrasive particles in a static magnetic field; where the container is surrounded by an induction coil; activating the induction coil with an electrical current, to heat up the metallic or ferromagnetic solid to form a fluid; generating sonic energy to produce acoustic cavitation and abrasion between the abrasive particles and the container; and producing nanoparticles that comprise elements from the container, the metal and/or the ferromagnetic solid and the abrasive particles. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising first metal or a first ceramic; and particles comprising carbides and/or nitrides dispersed therein. Disclosed herein too is a composition comprising nanoparticles comprising chromium carbide, iron carbide, nickel carbide, y.-Fe and magnesium nitride.

An induction furnace assembly comprising a chamber having a mold; a primary inductive coil coupled to the chamber; a layered susceptor comprising at least two layers of magnetic field attenuating material surrounding the chamber between the primary inductive coil and the mold to nullify the electromagnetic field in the hot zone of the furnace chamber.

The invention relates to an EIGA coil (10) for partial melting an electrode (40). The EIGA coil (10) comprises a plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) which are coaxially arranged with respect to a center axis (M) and axially spaced from each other, wherein each of the plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) is formed in the shape of a ring interrupted by a gap (14A, 14B, 14C) and equidistant with respect to the center axis (M) and extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis (M). Adjacent windings (12A, 12B; 12B, 12C) of the plurality of windings (12A, 12B, 12C) are respectively connected to each other via a connecting portion (20AB, 20BC; 120AB, 120BC).

An electromagnetic induction furnace which is intended to melt at least one electrically conductive material, such as an oxide and/or a metal, and which includes at least one inductor having at least one turn and at least one cooling circuit suitable for cooling at least the inductor. Said furnace is characterized in that the heat-transfer fluid of at least one cooling circuit is supercritical CO2. The invention also relates to a method for operating the furnace and to the use thereof for melting a mixture of metals (steel, zirconium, etc.) with oxides (uranium UO2, zirconium, etc.), as well as concrete components, the mixture representing a corium.

Various embodiments provide apparatus and methods for melting materials and for containing the molten materials within melt zone during melting. Exemplary apparatus may include a vessel configured to receive a material for melting therein; a load induction coil positioned adjacent to the vessel to melt the material therein; and a containment induction coil positioned in line with the load induction coil. The material in the vessel can be heated by operating the load induction coil at a first RF frequency to form a molten material. The containment induction coil can be operated at a second RF frequency to contain the molten material within the load induction coil. Once the desired temperature is achieved and maintained for the molten material, operation of the containment induction coil can be stopped and the molten material can be ejected from the vessel into a mold through an ejection path.